Srinagar, Apr 19: The separatists on Thursday appealed the people to maintain discipline during the campaign and protest demonstrations against the gruesome rape-and-murder of minor girl in Kathua.
Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik in a joint statement today said that some “mischievous elements were hell-bent to give ugly turn to peaceful demonstrations against the Kathua incident”.
Appealing people to maintain discipline and avoid confusion and disorder, they said “during the campaign and protest demonstrations against Kathua incident, it is appropriate that we should maintain discipline as some mischievous elements are desperate to play foul and are hell-bent to deviate attention and give ugly turn to our peaceful demonstrations.”
The gruesome incident of Kathua, they said, is shocking and consequent reaction and resentment of all sections irrespective of their faith and religion is obvious. “…the use of brute force against those expressing their sympathy with the affected family and demanding stringent action for criminals illustrates their concern to contain these heart wrenching crimes,” they said.
Demanding impartial probe by a UNO-sponsored agency, the separatist trio said that “the affected family in Kathua is being harassed and pressurized to withdraw case against the accused and state machinery is being utilized to hush-up the case.”
They also condemned the use of “brute force against students” and said that a situation in educational situations is turning explosive.
Blaming police for “manhandling students” in Anantnag, Kulgam Shopian, Baramulla, Srinagar, Pulwama and other places, they said that students are our future and “we are keeping close vigil over changing developments.”
Terming the police action as “vandalism and absolute barbaric”, they said “…we will never tolerate this and won’t leave innocent students at the mercy of authorities. The direct and unprovoked interference from police are infuriating students.”
